The Challenge of Facing “Otherness”.
As I prepare to be part of the ecumenical service at the Salvation Army Citadel this Sunday January 31, 2010 I have reflected on the challenge that continues to face us – Christian Unity.
Despite a lot of glib rhetoric to the contrary - most of us claim to accept otherness and difference – the deeper reality is different.
The Catholic Church itself – never mind the other Christian churches – is hampered in the work of the Gospel because of the polarization between what we refer to as “right” and “left’ in the church. It cuts across every parish. That can bring healthy tension but unless handled in a mature manner can be destructive and impede the work of building up the Body Of Christ.
Father Timothy Radcliffe in his book “What’s The Point of Being Christian” dedicates two chapters to this polarization and offers thoughtful solutions. He maintains that we Christians stopped talking to each other at the time of the Thirty Years War (1618-1648)!!
David Tracy, the eminent intellectual, submits that perhaps the biggest challenge confronting us today is that of facing our differences, of accepting, truly accepting, otherness. This challenge confronts us at every level: social, political, cultural, moral, religious.
In this challenge to communicate with “the other”, Father Ron Rolheiser reminds us that God is “The Other”.
Father Leo Byrne
Sunday, January 24, 2010
What Message and/or Challenge do we "hear" in "Collaboration??
January 24, 2010
Two things motivated me to post a Blog today…
First I announced this weekend that Deacon Carney and I had a Blog so check the web site.
Second the Toronto Star carried an article this morning announcing that Pope Benedict had encouraged clergy - bishops, priests and deacons - to get into blogging and Facebook.
Now as I stated at the Masses I have heard all sorts of directives from Popes over the decades of my life and priesthood but I never thought I would live to hear a directive like this from a Pope – get busy you clergy start blogging and get your mug on facebook. I will consider a little more before I launch the facebook thing.
I want to tell you about a very positive and encouraging experience of this past week at St. Paul The Apostle. I assure you there are always lots of positive and encouraging experiences in the course of a week at St. Paul’s.
Last Thursday I facilitated a gathering of the leadership team in the parish. The heads of all the groups and ministries at St. Paul The Apostle parish meet three times a year to celebrate our achievements and plan strategy as we work together in the future months.
Specifically we have been studying a book by Loughlan Sofield ST entitled “Collaboration, Uniting Our Gifts in Ministry”.
It was a very productive and postive session. The participation was 100%. The creative juices were flowing throughout the room.
What at difference from the previous session in September 2009.
The last meeting in September 2009 was one of the most difficult sessions I have ever facilitated. There was strong resistance in the room for wahtever reason. If you are familiar with the process you know I am not accusing or blaming here just stating an observation. It can be a way of a group telling the facilitator they are heading in the wrong direction or going too quickly.
I spoke of this difficult experience at the beginning of the session last Thursday January 21, 2010. These were basically the same leadership people.
I also mentioned a conversation I had earlier in the day with Margie Ann McKinnon at the Diocesan Centre. Margie Ann sponsored a workshop in 2009 with Loughlan Sofield on “Collaborative Ministry”. Her advice to me –“Avoid the word Collaboration”. In the advertising for a workshop we are planning here at St. Paul The Apostle November 6, 2010 with Loughlan Sofield her advice was stress discovering our gifts, something like that but not “Collaborative Ministry”.
The sense is there is resistance to “Collaboration” and “Collaborative Ministry”.
Those more trained in these areas might be able to give more insight into this but it appears these words set off alarm bells in our psyche – we are going to lose some of our independence or I am going to be challenged to change. Is that what we are hearing in the unconscious?
Understanding what was happening is not my area of expertise – I only know what I experienced at the September session and something very different this last meeting after I spoke of the resistance I perceived at the earlier session
I know the Collaboration language is very current today in many organizations in our society.
I would like to hear from folks who work in non-church/secular organizations. Is this resistancee a common experience or is this just a church phenomenon? My guess is it is a human phenomenon. Intriguing!!
Other events coming up include an ecumenical service next Sunday January 31st sponsored by the Kingston Ministerial Association. It takes place at the new Salvation Army Citadel corner of Taylor-Kidd Blvd and Centennial Drive. The service begins at 6:30 pm.
I am honoured to have been asked the preach at that service
Have a good last week of January – especially if you find January not your favourite month.
…and if you have any thoughts on the “Collaboration” thing my email is fatherlbyrne@cogeco.ca
Father Leo
Two things motivated me to post a Blog today…
First I announced this weekend that Deacon Carney and I had a Blog so check the web site.
Second the Toronto Star carried an article this morning announcing that Pope Benedict had encouraged clergy - bishops, priests and deacons - to get into blogging and Facebook.
Now as I stated at the Masses I have heard all sorts of directives from Popes over the decades of my life and priesthood but I never thought I would live to hear a directive like this from a Pope – get busy you clergy start blogging and get your mug on facebook. I will consider a little more before I launch the facebook thing.
I want to tell you about a very positive and encouraging experience of this past week at St. Paul The Apostle. I assure you there are always lots of positive and encouraging experiences in the course of a week at St. Paul’s.
Last Thursday I facilitated a gathering of the leadership team in the parish. The heads of all the groups and ministries at St. Paul The Apostle parish meet three times a year to celebrate our achievements and plan strategy as we work together in the future months.
Specifically we have been studying a book by Loughlan Sofield ST entitled “Collaboration, Uniting Our Gifts in Ministry”.
It was a very productive and postive session. The participation was 100%. The creative juices were flowing throughout the room.
What at difference from the previous session in September 2009.
The last meeting in September 2009 was one of the most difficult sessions I have ever facilitated. There was strong resistance in the room for wahtever reason. If you are familiar with the process you know I am not accusing or blaming here just stating an observation. It can be a way of a group telling the facilitator they are heading in the wrong direction or going too quickly.
I spoke of this difficult experience at the beginning of the session last Thursday January 21, 2010. These were basically the same leadership people.
I also mentioned a conversation I had earlier in the day with Margie Ann McKinnon at the Diocesan Centre. Margie Ann sponsored a workshop in 2009 with Loughlan Sofield on “Collaborative Ministry”. Her advice to me –“Avoid the word Collaboration”. In the advertising for a workshop we are planning here at St. Paul The Apostle November 6, 2010 with Loughlan Sofield her advice was stress discovering our gifts, something like that but not “Collaborative Ministry”.
The sense is there is resistance to “Collaboration” and “Collaborative Ministry”.
Those more trained in these areas might be able to give more insight into this but it appears these words set off alarm bells in our psyche – we are going to lose some of our independence or I am going to be challenged to change. Is that what we are hearing in the unconscious?
Understanding what was happening is not my area of expertise – I only know what I experienced at the September session and something very different this last meeting after I spoke of the resistance I perceived at the earlier session
I know the Collaboration language is very current today in many organizations in our society.
I would like to hear from folks who work in non-church/secular organizations. Is this resistancee a common experience or is this just a church phenomenon? My guess is it is a human phenomenon. Intriguing!!
Other events coming up include an ecumenical service next Sunday January 31st sponsored by the Kingston Ministerial Association. It takes place at the new Salvation Army Citadel corner of Taylor-Kidd Blvd and Centennial Drive. The service begins at 6:30 pm.
I am honoured to have been asked the preach at that service
Have a good last week of January – especially if you find January not your favourite month.
…and if you have any thoughts on the “Collaboration” thing my email is fatherlbyrne@cogeco.ca
Father Leo
Monday, January 4, 2010
Thoughts for the New Year
January 4, 2010
Just getting started on this "Blog Business" but thought since I am priviledged to be part of such a vibrant community of St. Paul |The Apostle and was ordained before the Secondd Vatican Council - Mass in Latin with my back to the people and all that (April 29, 1962) - I have an interesting perspective on church and society gathered from all those great people I have met over the years.
Truth is I was encouraged - more like pushed - by Deacon Carney to get going on this blog.
Just started preparing my homily for next Sunday January 10.
Found myself hoping you could all hear that first reading tonight before you go to bed. "Comfort, O comfort my people." "She has served her term, her penalty is paid...she has recieved from the Lord's hand double for all her sins"
OK that means all of us who drag things around for years and God is saying "Let it go" I have bigger and better things for you than carrying false guilt. That isn't a healthy way to live and blocks all kinds of positive growth.
This weekend - Saturday and Monday I will be leading parent for first Reconciliation - talking about sin guilt and all that stuff. I think I will read that passage to set the tone.
These are my favourite parent meeetings because we can get into all that real gutsy stuff.
Give yourself a gift and tonight before you go to bed read that passage from Isaiah if you have a Bible Isaiah 40:1-5 and 9-11 and sleep a lot easier knowing tht you don't have to carry the world on your shoulders
and you know what there is a God who is so anxious to forgive you.
Father Leo
Just getting started on this "Blog Business" but thought since I am priviledged to be part of such a vibrant community of St. Paul |The Apostle and was ordained before the Secondd Vatican Council - Mass in Latin with my back to the people and all that (April 29, 1962) - I have an interesting perspective on church and society gathered from all those great people I have met over the years.
Truth is I was encouraged - more like pushed - by Deacon Carney to get going on this blog.
Just started preparing my homily for next Sunday January 10.
Found myself hoping you could all hear that first reading tonight before you go to bed. "Comfort, O comfort my people." "She has served her term, her penalty is paid...she has recieved from the Lord's hand double for all her sins"
OK that means all of us who drag things around for years and God is saying "Let it go" I have bigger and better things for you than carrying false guilt. That isn't a healthy way to live and blocks all kinds of positive growth.
This weekend - Saturday and Monday I will be leading parent for first Reconciliation - talking about sin guilt and all that stuff. I think I will read that passage to set the tone.
These are my favourite parent meeetings because we can get into all that real gutsy stuff.
Give yourself a gift and tonight before you go to bed read that passage from Isaiah if you have a Bible Isaiah 40:1-5 and 9-11 and sleep a lot easier knowing tht you don't have to carry the world on your shoulders
and you know what there is a God who is so anxious to forgive you.
Father Leo
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